A team of young European “maritime ambassadors” has called for implementation of an EU-wide maritime surveillance and enforcement programme for the Common Fisheries Policy.
Investment in reskilling of people employed in “disappearing sectors” is also one of 11 recommendations made by the group this week to French Minister for the Sea Annick Girardin and her European counterparts.
The “maritime ambassadors” are part of Eurocean's Youth, a network created by the French Ministry of the Sea and Surfrider Foundation Europe.
Surfrider Europe was created in 1990 by a group of surfers who wanted to “preserve their playground”.
It says grass-roots activism to protect oceans and coasts is at the core of the organisation. It has over 2,000 volunteers in 43 local branches in 11 European countries.
The group of 106 “maritime ambassadors” are students in oceanography, environment or political science, aged between 20 and 27 years.
They have worked for three months on recommendations in two subjects - the sustainable future of maritime transport and the evolution of careers in maritime professions.
Their nine other recommendations are:
- Creating a marine Erasmus+ programme, combining education, job and networking opportunities, to enhance knowledge transfer and raise awareness about maritime affairs;
- Creation of a European platform to advance ocean literacy;
- Introduction of an ocean certification for public authorities in the EU;
- Implementation of a new rating system for zero-emission vessels;
- Improving the monitoring of water quality in the EU ports;
- Ensuring strict implementation of dredging rules with the aim of introducing a dredging ban in upcoming years;
- Providing EU subsidies for training in autonomous vessels technology and promoting this specialisation in maritime schools, EU-wide;
- Making government, private and EU funding available for the environmental transition of the shipping sector;
- Accession of shipowners to the “Green Marine” label by providing financial support to its certified members.
